District of Columbia Lemon Law

The District of Columbia Automobile Consumer Protection Act of 1984 (D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-510) covers new motor vehicles registered in the District that have a material defect or nonconformity reported within the first 18,000 miles or 2 years following original delivery, whichever is earlier. The defect must significantly impair the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle. The Act covers consumers, including purchasers, lessees, transferees during the warranty period, and persons entitled by warranty terms to enforce warranty obligations. Vehicles outside the 18,000-mile/2-year window are not covered by the Lemon Law itself, although the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act may still apply.

D.C. Code § 50-501 et seq. presumes a reasonable number of repair attempts when, within the first 18,000 miles or 2 years after original delivery (whichever is earlier), the same non-safety-related nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times and continues to exist, or the vehicle has been out of service for cumulative 30 or more calendar days. For safety-related defects, only one unsuccessful repair attempt is required. The manufacturer must have received notice and an opportunity to cure. Once the threshold is met, the consumer may submit a claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration.

Used vehicles can qualify if they are still within the 18,000-mile/2-year window measured from original delivery. The District also has separate disclosure rules for used vehicles in D.C. Code § 50-505, which require dealers to disclose known damages or defects. Used buyers outside the Lemon Law window typically rely on the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act for any remaining written warranties, on D.C.'s Consumer Protection Procedures Act for deceptive or unfair sales practices, or on UCC breach-of-warranty claims. The CPPA private right of action is particularly powerful because it authorizes treble damages or up to $1,500 per violation plus attorneys' fees.

Yes. The statutory definition of 'consumer' in D.C. Code § 50-501 includes lessees and persons entitled by warranty to enforce warranty obligations. Lessees of new vehicles within the first 18,000 miles or 2 years can pursue refund or replacement on the same terms as purchasers. The refund covers the lessee's down payment, monthly lease payments, sales tax, license fees, registration fees, and similar governmental charges, less the statutory use offset. The lease is treated as terminated, and the manufacturer takes title.

Under D.C. Code § 50-507, any action brought under the Act must be commenced within 4 years of the date of original delivery of the vehicle to the consumer. Before filing in court, however, the consumer must first submit the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration. The 4-year window is in addition to the 18,000-mile/2-year coverage period — the underlying defect and repair attempts must occur during the coverage period, but suit can be filed up to 4 years after delivery. D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act claims have their own limitations period (typically 3 years).

Yes. Under D.C. Code § 50-503, consumers must first submit the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration within the D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The Board determines within 5 business days whether the claim qualifies for arbitration and issues a decision within 60 days of acceptance. If the Board rejects the case for arbitration, or if the consumer rejects the arbitration award, the consumer may then file in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Either party can also petition the court for a trial de novo within 20 days of the Board's decision.

If you prevail, the manufacturer must either replace the vehicle with a comparable motor vehicle or accept return and refund the full purchase price including sales tax, license fees, registration fees, and similar governmental charges. The deduction for consumer use is capped at 10 cents per mile beyond 12,000 miles, plus an allowance for non-wear damage. D.C. Code § 50-502 authorizes a civil penalty of up to $1,500 against a manufacturer that violates the Act, plus actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorneys' fees. Many D.C. consumers also pursue parallel claims under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act, which authorizes treble damages or up to $1,500 per violation, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees.